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Dolphins elevate a pair of offensive linemen from practice squad for road game vs. 49ers

The Dolphins have elevated offensive linemen James Empey and Kendall Lamm from the practice squad for Sunday’s road game against the San Francisco 49ers. The moves give Miami additional depth with its starting tackles expected to be sidelined.

Right tackle Austin Jackson has been ruled out because of an ankle injury, while left tackle Terron Armstead has been listed as doubtful and is unlikely to play because of a pectoral injury.

Greg Little and Brandon Shell are expected to start at left tackle and right tackle, respectively, but the addition of Empey and Lamm gives the Dolphins eight healthy offensive linemen on Sunday.

Empey, 6-3 and 297 pounds, signed to the team’s practice squad in September. He originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has yet to appear in an NFL game. Empey, who played center in college, was a four-year player at BYU, starting in all 41 games he appeared in.

Lamm signed to the team’s practice squad on Monday but is the more experienced of the two. Over seven seasons, Lamm, 30, has played in 86 career games with 28 starts. Most of Lamm’s snaps have been at right tackle, with over 1,000 snaps at the position. But he has also played 351 snaps at left tackle. Lamm last played in an NFL game with the Tennessee Titans in the 2021 season and was previously on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad this season.

“I’ve known of him when he’s come out, and then playing at this level, he’s done a good job,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. “I think the more NFL game experience that you have on your NFL team at the offensive line position is critical, just because it’s not something that you want to come off as a reserve or off the bench and enter in your first situation. It’s not ideal at all. He’s a good player and I’m happy to have him around.”